ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

FRED RANDOLPH was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Though he was exposed to Hawaiian music early through ukelele lessons, his main interest as a child was surfing. In high school he took up the guitar, studying with local jazz guitarist Bill Valdez, and began playing at high school dances while developing a passion for jazz as a sideline.

Moving to San Diego, he studied jazz guitar with Steve O'Connor and composition with Bernard Rands at U.C.S.D., followed by a move to Berkeley where he studied conducting with Michael Senturia at U.C.B. He also at this time took up the saxophone and later the trumpet, studying with Jay Rizzetto at Hayward State University. He studied composition with Frank Larocca and during the course of composing his master's thesis, the string quintet "Resurrection", he became fascinated with the sound and possibilities of the acoustic bass. He began studies on the bass with Carl Stanley while still at Hayward State, then continued with Brian Marcus, Alex Glikman, and Frank Tusa, as well as electric bassist Kai Eckhardt. Fred is currently a student of bassist Timothy Spears.

A recent graduate of Hayward State University with a Masters degree in composition, Fred now freelances in and around the bay area as a bassist, arranger, and composer, and educator. He co-led the jazz quintet "The Zone" for several years, composing most of the music for that group's first cd "Grand Canyon Blue". He performed with the acclaimed Full Spectrum Jazz Orchestra, appearing on their initial cd "First Time Out" and the more recent "Rayna's Dance". As a member of the "Collective West Jazz Orchestra", he appears on their recently recorded cd "Downbeat 9:30". He performed on the soundtrack of the film documentary "Lifeline" which aired on KQED TV during December of 1999 and spent two seasons as a member of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra.

Fred has taught instrumental music privately and for the Piedmont Unified School District. He taught for two summers at the Hayward-La Honda music camp and taught for two years at Berkeley's U.C. Jazz Ensembles. Currently Fred is teaching both privately and at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette, California, where he teaches both jazz combo and bass. Recently, Fred’s student combo at Stanley, “The Groove Merchants” placed 3rd in the 2004 Downbeat Student Combo contest.

Fred recently recorded his first solo cd entitled "LEARNING CURVE" and performed his new music at Yoshi’s jazz club and many other venues around the Bay Area with the quintet. The recent release of “NEW DAY” saw him premiering the music at the Jazz School in Berkeley on December 16th 2006. This highly successful concert was recorded for broadcast on KCSM 91.1 FM’s Sunday night series. Fred hopes to be performing this and other new music around the Bay Area and beyond in the near future and meanwhile he performs as the leader of the Fred Randolph Trio, Duo, and Quintet, and continues work as a sideman for top Bay Area artists.

There stands a lone bass player on the cover of this album, which is a bit misleading. From the opening trumpet and hopeful strokes of percussion that begin, "Being Set Free" through the somber notes of "The Longing", there isn't a moment where an errant bass solo self righteously flips past the band. This is album is all about synergy, composition, and ensemble. Fred looks to connect without showing off (at least on the bass). Buy it.

As is to be expected Fred and crew have blazed a trail with dynamite grooves way past perfection,these cuts should sizzle live at any concert venue! Mr. Randolph surely this is a New Day a great CD kick off for 2007 & the future of stylish jazz. A master has unleashed a masterpiece.. Miles,Dizzy,Trane,and Ella smile with GLEE!! Doug Howerton Waking State Multimedia

The number of transformations just one song goes through boggles my mind! His approach to popular forms of music makes me think of Bartok taking folk melodies and making them into classical pieces.

Being Set Free is light and airy. I love the rhythms at the beginning and end of Eclipse. The Wish is sweetly melancholy. I like the quirky intro to Melodia Sem Fim. That piece reminds me of the soundtracks you hear on 70s movies.
Kinda 'french, international' sounding....? The Longing makes me want to sit in a lounge and drink whiskey, waiting for Humphrey Bogart to appear and something film noir to happen! : - ) IceNine has a beautiful intro. and Soul Stuff makes me pick up my guitar!

I might be prejudiced since 3 guys (Fred, Art, Rob) on this album were in one of my best bands (Zone), but I really dig this album. I think those of us fortunate enough to have been able to commune with nature seem to find a way to get it into the music (and I don't mean the cover!) You can feel Fred's connection. And I hope his non-inclusion of the TIME of each tune doesn't stop a dj from playing it! Miles didn't bother either and you know the music was all he cared about!

This is some of the freshest composing coming out of the SF Bay Area. The choice of musicians and the recording itself is super. This is what art is really about ...... creating without regard for current popular jazz trends and pure expression in the jazz form. Kudos to Fred Randolph for bringing this masterpiece to our ears!